Switch



Patented- Feb. 27, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE swrrcn Franck n. Meglnnlss, Albany, N. Y.

Application June 19, 1929. Serial No. 311.993

1 1 Claims. (01.200-60) My invention relates to electric switches and particularly to a device of this character of novel construction whereby it may be entirely enclosed and hermetically sealed within a cell or container l and yet be mechanically actuated to make or break an electric circuit by a movement of the container.

The principal object of my invention is to pro vide an, electric switch which may be mechanicah ly actuated to make or break an electric circuit without danger of the sparking or arcing at the contacts causing an explosion when the switch cell is surrounded by a combustible gas. Another object is to provide a switch which may be melb chanically actuated at the will of the operator to make or break an electric circuit, but in which it is not necessary for the operator to actually touch any part of the switch or its actuating element to effect an operation thereof. Another 80 object is to provide a switch of the character described which will be of general application in the arts and which may be operated by inertia or shock. A further object is to provide a switch which is particularly adapted for association with a hash lamp of the type used by firemen, policemen, miners, drivers, gas inspectors and the like.

The switch is actuated by the vertical movement of a weight associated with the actuating element. When the switch container is given a 80 quick vigorous vertical shake the comparatively heavy weight sliding in a'vertically disposed guiding cylinder will move slowly,'but,, at the end of the shake, the weight acting through inertia and gravity will continue to move pulling the actuatll ing element to operate the switch. Thus, when associated with a flash lamp, 9. quick shake, after the manner of extinguishing a swltchmans lantern, will positively close or open the lighting circui-t. It can be positively operated with one hand 40 and i1 sealed so that it is gas and water prooi. its action is certain and there is no danger of a short circuit or spark igniting inflammable gases.

With these objects in view, my invention includes the novel elements and the combinations 4!! and arrangements of elements described'below Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical, section ap proximately in the plane 4 4 of Fig. 3 and showing the switch arm disengaged; and r Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a fireman's flash lamp showing my switch cell attached. .0

' Referring to the drawing, the embodiment oi! my invention illustrated comprises a cell :A" within which is a hollow guiding cylinder, 1. This cylinder contains a heavy weight, 2, freely slidable therein. The cell is hermetically sealed at 08 the bottom by gasket, 3.

Attached externally to the cylinder, 1, by any suitable means, generally a threaded annular collar, 4, is an ordinary pull switch mechanism. The switch unit which I propose to use I call for convenience a pull switch. By this I mean a switch of the well known type used in lighting fixtures which is actuated either to make or break an electric circuit by moving an actuating element in the same direction. One species of such II a switch is generally described in United States Letters Patent No. 1,483,162 issued to Victor R. Despard, and No. 1,483,173 issued to David D. Gordon. .No claim is made to the switch, per se, and any type of pull or push switch in which the so actuating element automatically, when released, returns to its initial position for the next operation will obviously serve the purpose.

The switch illustrated comprises a link, 5, U-shaped connection, 6, hooked member, 7, heli- 06 cal spring, 8, and switch arm, 9. The link. 5, is swiveled to a hollow tubular lever, 10, to which the ball chain, 11, is attached in any convenient manner, this chain being also attached to the weight,

2. The lever, l0, has a flange, 12, which rides o0 freely on collar, 4. This lever, 10, is universally mounted and adapted also, to be pulled by the chain, 11. On the end of the switch arm, 9, are two arms, 13, adapted to have sliding contact with elongated contact plates, 14, attached to as lower insulated plate, 15, by rivets, 16. These plates, 14, have contact screws, 17, electrically connected with binding posts, 20, which may be in the base or side of the cell and which can be connected with the lamp and battery in the usual manner to form an electrical circuit through the switch.

Referring toFig. 5, the cell, A, is shown attached to fireman's flash lamp, B, having lens, C, and lamp, D, and provided with handle, E, which isadapted to hang over the rungs of a ladder. The cover, G, is attached to the lantern in any'sultable manner and, it necessary, sealed with a gasket. The cell, A, could be located within the lamp. D, &Dd thehandlc, E, attached di-.

rectly to the lamp. The weight when at rest cannot exert suflicient force to operate the switch but must be given enough kinetic energy by shaking to overcome the resistance oiiered by the switch mechanism.

When the lamp is given a quick, vigorous, down ward movement, the weight, of course, moves downward, and continuing by its own inertia after the downward movement oi. the lamp and other switch elements has ceased, pulls the chain, thereby actuating the switch to open or close the circuit. After actuating the switch, the weight is returned to its original position by the spring 8.

While I have described my invention in its preferred embodiment it is to be understood that the words which I have used are words of description rather than of limitation and that the drawing is merely illustrative. Hence changes, within the purview of the appended claims, may be made without departing from the true scope and spirit of my invention.

What I claim is-- 1. In an electric flash lamp of the lantern type, the combination with a switch therefor, 01 a slidable weight associated with said switch and oi suiiicient mass to eflect an actuation thereof by its own inertia, and resilient means for yieldingly retaining said weight in position for a switch actuating movement; said weight being moved against the action of said means by abruptly stopping a vertical movement of the lamp.

2. The combination with an electric switch of a movable actuating element therefor, means for automatically returning said actuating element to its initial position after actuating the switch while retaining said switch in position as actuated, a weight associated with said element and of suflicient mass to produce a switch actuating movement of said element by inertia when a bodily movement of the switch is abruptly retarded, and means for guiding the movement of said weight.

3. The combination with an electric switch provided with an element for both opening and closing said switch by a unidirectional movement thereof, of a weight associated with said element and 01' suflicient mass to produce a switch actuating movement of said element by inertia when a bodily movement the switch is abruptly retarded, and means for guiding the movement of. said weight.

4. The combination with an electric switch provided with an element for both opening and closing said switch by a unidirectional movement thereof, of a weight associated with said element and or sumcient mass to produce a switch actuating movement of said element by inertia when a bodily movement of the switch is abruptly retarded, and means for limiting the direction of the movement or said weight.

5. In a device or the character described, the combination with an electric switch having an actuating element for eiiecting both an opening and closing of said switch by a unidirectional movement thereof, or a suspended weight conmeted to said actuating element and of sumsaid switch to its original position.

cient mass to en'ect an operating movement or the actuating element by its own inertia when the unit is quickly moved in a vertical direction and abruptly stopped.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination with an electric switch having an actuating element both to open and close the switch when moved in the same direction, of a weight operatively associated with but incapable of moving the actuating element when at rest, but of suflicient mass to eiiect an operating movement oi said element by gravity and its inertia when a movement oi the device in a vertical direction is abruptly stopped.

"I. In a device oi the character described, the combination with an electric switch having an actuating element adapted to open or close the switch when moved in the same direction, of means forming a cell enclosing said switch and element, and a weight connected to said actuat- 95 ing element, slidably contained in a cylinder attached to said cell; said weight being adapted to eflect an operating movement oi. the actuating element by inertia when a movement of the device in a vertical direction is abruptly retarded.

8. In a device 0! the character described, the combination with an electric switch having an actuating element adapted to open or close the switch when moved in the same direction, of means forming an enclosing cell for said switch and element, and a weight connected to said actuating element adapted to eiIect an operating movement thereof by inertia; said weight being slidably contained in a hollow cylinder attached to said cell whereby movement 01 the weight is restricted to one direction.

9. In an electric switch, the combination with means for making or breaking an electric circuit, 01 a weight associated therewith and of suilicient mass to effect an actuation of the switch by its inertia when a bodily movement oi the switch is abruptly stopped, a guide along which said weight is slidable, and resilient means for returning the weight to its initial position after each switch actuating movement thereof.

10. In a switch comprising a movable element, means responsive to the movement of said element in the same direction for opening and closing said switch, a guide member, and a weight 135 connected to said element and slidable along said member and ot suillcient mass to eii'ect an operation of said switch by its own inertia when a bodily movement of said switch is abruptly retarded.

11. In a switch comprising a movable element, means responsive to the movement 01' said element in the same direction for opening and closing said switch, a guide member, a weight connected to said element and slidable a.ong said 135 member and of suflicient mass to effect an operation of said switch by its own inertia when a bodily movement of said switch is abruptly retarded, and means for automatically returning FRANCIS R. MEGINNIBS. 

